Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Figueira da Foz Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Figueira da Foz

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,681 per month in Medellin vs $1,266 in Figueira da Foz, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,445 per month in Medellin vs $1,864 in Figueira da Foz, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,210 per month in Medellin vs $2,462 in Figueira da Foz, rent included.

Medellin costs about 33% more than Figueira da Foz, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 23% above the global median, while Figueira da Foz is 7% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Figueira da Foz
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.02 COP 25.4K
$10.59 €9.22
-24.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.87 COP 152.0K
$46.34 €40.33
3.30%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.89 COP 31.4K
$6.76 €5.89
46.30%
Cappuccino
$3.13 COP 9,937
$1.48 €1.29
111.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91 COP 6,058
$1.56 €1.35
22.44%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 COP 4,794
$1.10 €0.96
37.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.12 COP 9,917
$1.89 €1.65
65.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75 COP 18.3K
$2.88 €2.50
99.65%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Figueira da Foz
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.44 COP 4,587
$1.03 €0.90
39.81%
White Bread (500g)
$2.49 COP 7,894
$1.27 €1.11
96.06%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 COP 5,631
$1.68 €1.46
5.36%
Eggs
$2.96 COP 9,396
$2.85 €2.48
3.86%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.07 COP 32.0K
$6.18 €5.38
62.94%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.12 COP 32.1K
$6.76 €5.88
49.70%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.30 COP 45.4K
$10.83 €9.42
32.04%
Apples (1kg)
$4.14 COP 13.1K
$2.01 €1.75
105.97%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 COP 5,106
$1.38 €1.20
16.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.25 COP 7,129
$1.92 €1.68
17.19%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.25 COP 7,150
$1.93 €1.68
16.58%
Potato (1kg)
$2.04 COP 6,486
$1.72 €1.50
18.60%
Onion (1kg)
$1.54 COP 4,873
$1.85 €1.61
-16.76%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.17 COP 3,715
$1.32 €1.14
-11.36%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31 COP 4,148
$0.47 €0.41
178.72%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90 COP 12.4K
$6.02 €5.24
-35.22%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.01 COP 44.5K
$3.95 €3.44
254.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74 COP 5,534
$0.96 €0.84
81.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 COP 9,112
$2.60 €2.26
10.38%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Figueira da Foz
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.22 COP 3,858
$2.41 €2.10
-49.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$80.5 COP 255.5K
$41.01 €35.69
96.24%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.31 COP 4,155
$2.73 €2.37
-52.01%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.19 COP 6,944
$0.85 €0.74
157.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.71 COP 27.7K
$10.47 €9.11
-16.81%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.37 COP 4,334
$2.06 €1.80
-33.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K COP 88.4M
$34.2K €29.8K
-18.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8K COP 113.6M
$39.7K €34.6K
-9.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Figueira da Foz
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$177 COP 562.9K
$98.0 €85.3
80.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.88 COP 44.1K
$21.77 €18.95
-36.24%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.72 COP 94.4K
$32.83 €28.57
-9.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Figueira da Foz
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.88 COP 142.5K
$34.94 €30.41
28.45%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.12 COP 54.4K
$19.78 €17.21
-13.45%
Cinema Ticket
$6.65 COP 21.1K
$8.61 €7.50
-22.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Figueira da Foz
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$813 COP 2.6M
$285 €248
184.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,187 COP 29.2M
$6,080 €5,292
51.09%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Figueira da Foz
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.5 COP 284.1K
$60.1 €52.3
48.85%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.0 COP 187.2K
$36.51 €31.78
61.52%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$138 COP 438.8K
$46.35 €40.34
198.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102 COP 324.2K
$98.2 €85.4
4.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Figueira da Foz
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,062 COP 3.4M
$712 €620
49.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$663 COP 2.1M
$545 €474
21.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,888 COP 6.0M
$1,125 €979
67.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,027 COP 3.3M
$739 €643
38.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,183 COP 13.3M
$2,154 €1,875
94.18%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,675 COP 5.3M
$1,474 €1,283
13.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Figueira da Foz
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$678 COP 2.2M
$1,149 €1,000
-41.02%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
3.53
209.92%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026

Last update for Figueira da Foz: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,062 in Medellin versus $712 in Figueira da Foz. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 70% higher in Figueira da Foz, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin versus $46.00 in Figueira da Foz. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $305 vs $199 – making Figueira da Foz the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Medellin vs Figueira da Foz: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Figueira da Foz cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 33%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,521 per month in Medellin and $1,898 in Figueira da Foz. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Figueira da Foz, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 96% less in Figueira da Foz. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $813 per month in Medellin and $285 in Figueira da Foz. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Figueira da Foz?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Figueira da Foz, where all-in costs run around $1,266, than in Medellin at $1,681. In Figueira da Foz it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Figueira da Foz more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Figueira da Foz – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Medellin or Figueira da Foz?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Figueira da Foz. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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